Pronged tufting button



Oct. 27, 1 931. R. D. LANE PRONGED TUFTING BUTTON Filed Sept. 13, 1930 gwuewto Ric/:ard .D.Lane

Patented ct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD D. LANE, OF AUGUSTA, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE F. A. NEIDER COM- PANY, OF AUGUSTA, KENTUCKY, A CORPQRATION OF KENTUCKY PRONGED TUFTING BUTTON Application led September 13, 1930. Serial No. 481,739.

This invention relates to tufting buttons of the type having pointed prongs which pierce the front and back covers of a cushion or the like, which prongs are then turned over for holding the button in position.

An object of the invention is to provide a pronged tufting button that may be manufactured at small cost and by the use of fast and comparatively simple and inexpensive machinery.

Another object is to provide a tufting button the prongs of which will not readily break od, and which prongs are mounted in a button ring so as to be bent upon application to a cushion, at a place other than that at which they are bent by the machinery during manufacture.

Another object is to provide a form of tufting button in which the prongs thereof are afforded maximum resilience.

. Another object is to provide a tufting button the top of which cannot readily be dented.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the various constituent parts of the tufting button of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the prong portion or member having attached thereto a ring-shaped crimp or button ring providing a base for the attachment of a covering of cloth, leather or other material.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is an elevational view of a finished tufting button.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The pronged tufting button of the present invention comprises a body or skeleton consisting of the parts 7 and 8 which may be termed the prong element and the button mounting ring, respectively. The finishing button or head 9 consists of a cover retaining crimp disc 10 and a circular piece of material 11 such as cloth, leather, rubber or similar material suitable for a covering.

The button mounting ring 8 comprises a cup-shaped metallic member having a perforation 12 in its circular base 13, and a peripheral upstanding continuous flange 14 extending from the base. The perforation 12 1s large compared with the combined crosssectional areas of the two contacting prongs 15 and 16, and said prongs are insertible therein as illustrated in Fig. 5. The head end 17 of the prong element is substantially triangular in shape, the sides 18 thereof terminating in the prongs 15 and 16. These sides may be arcuate, the outer faces thereof being concave. The third side 19 of the triangular head end may also be arcuate, its outer surface being convex. At the juncture of the third side with the sides 18 are formed the opposed anchor portions or extensions 2O which, when the prong element is inserted in the perforation 12, rests upon the inner face of the base 13. The upstanding flange 14C thereof may then be spun in or otherwise bent upon the anchor portions 2O to provide the completed body or skeleton illustrated in Figs 2, and 3. It should be noted (Fig. 2) that the top arcuate side 19 of the head end 17 extends slightly above the mounting ring 8, and that diametrically opposite portions of the base 13 of the ring 8 contact the concave faces of the sides 18 (Fig. 5). lVhen the prongs 15 and 16 are bentoutwardly in opposite directions, the bending takes place in the region of the line of Contact between the prongs and the edge of the opening 12. This insures close contact of the under side of the button with the material being tufted, and reduces the probability of breakage at the anchor portions 2O due to further bending.

The coverino' 11 maybe applied to the body or skeleton in any suitable manner such as by placing it upon the outer surface 22 of the imperforate crimp disc 10, then tucking the edge 23 thereof inwardly about the curved continuous flange 2st of the disc, after which the flange 24 is turned inwardly by application thereto of a proper inwardly directed force. The inwardly turned flange 24 thereupon clinches the covering material 11, which is further clinched in the region 25 of the upper inwardly turned flange 14 of the 'button mounting ring 8. A very satisfactory and effective connection is thereby made between the mounting ring 8 and the covered disc l0. f

By having the convex sideV 19 of the 'head end 17 of the prong member extending slightly above the mounting ring8,.the crimp disc 10 may contact therewithfas at 27, therebyreinforcing the central portion of thedisc.

AWhat is claimed is:

l. A prong structure for tufting buttons v Y. comprising a prong 'member havingja sub'- stantially triangular head iforme'dinterme;y diate the ends oi' the prong member, the tri angular head having vsides terminating at. the prongs and another side formingwith the 1 first mentioned sides a pair of anchor portions /and a button mounting` ring having an upstanding flange and a perforatelbase the prongs extending i through the 'perforation in the' base and the anchor portions being 5 clinched between the base and the hange.

2. 'A prong structure for tufting buttons comprising a prong member having a sub-k fstantially triangular head formed intermediate theends of the prongmember, the triangularhead having sides terminating atthe prongs and another side forming with the lrst mentioned sides a pair oi' anchorportionspanda button mounting ring having an upstanding iiange and a perforatevbase the prongslextending through the perforation in the base and the anchor portions being clinchedA between the base andl the flange, the

third side ofthe triangular' head of the prongA member being extended beyond vthe button mounting ring. y Y

3. A tufting' button 'comprising a prong' member having a head end substantially tri' angular invshape, two of the corners thereof providing anchor portions, a button mounting ring having a perforate base and a lange,' the prong member extending through Ytheperioration in the base and the anchor por# tions being secured between the base and s iiange, vand a finishing bu'ttonfor covering vthe mountingring and comprising a flanged disc and a piece of covering material the flange of which disc iscrimped upon the covering material and the mounting ring. f

4. A tufting button comprising a prong i member having a head end developedinto a pair of opposed anchor portions, abuttonmounting ring having a perforate :base and a iiange turnedupon the anchor portions of the prong member, the prong member eX- Y tending through the perforation ofthe base,

a piece of covering material and a flanged disc crimped upon lthe base of the mount-ing ring, aportion of the covering material being clinched also uponthe turned flange of the button mounting ring.

A In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub-u l scribed my name this 11th day of September, 1930. Y u

i RICHARD D. LANE. 

